Ask An Expert- Aviation

[Aryajet]

Yep, that's the plan. An RC build from scratch. However, I've checked the prices yesterday, some things went up and some are not available (pending for tax and custom fees or are simply out of stock) so I don't know how long it will take me to build the thing. I was thinking to go with small steps and gradually progress towards more complex stuff, so the first airplane would be a glider (sailplane), small, hand launched with no control (free flyer as we call it here), than the bigger sailplane,controlled sailplane, powered sailplane and than the RC airplane. Constrains are many, knowledge and budget being at the top and than materials and machinery/tools being secondary. But I am learning everyday and I am determined to overcome them and get the design airborne. I will make a thread about it that will follow the progress, most likely tomorrow.

Thanks for the advices,Tharos and Chogy much appreciated.

If this is your first attempt on scratch building a RC plane then I suggest you start with a simple trainer plane with high wing and rudder elevator only. Later on if you think you need ailerons then you can cut them from the same wing. You will learn how to do this as you progress. The cheapest and most exciting way to do this is that you buy a full size plan from many sellers here in US and Europe as well. Check the links below. You can also enlarge or even make those plans smaller.

Get yourself needed balsa and Plywood and start cutting. You won't need too many tools to do this. A set of small tools from Hobby outlets in the net or local shops will meet your need for start. Good lock to you and let me know if I can help I have over 20 years of building and flying RC planes under my belt.

don Smith plans Precision Cut Kits

Nick Ziroli plans http://www.ziroliplans.com/ziroliplans/welcome.html

[zraver]

nvm

[zraver]

Question about B-17 flying fortress.

I stiil watch and enjoy 12 O'clock High (yah kinda old school) and many times I've noticed a box frame looking device which looks like a short ladder located on the bulkhead right behind pilot and copilot seats. While flying this thing seems continuously sliding left to right and vs. I've checked the net many times but no answer to my curiosity. What is that thing?

pic?

[chanjyj]

Question about B-17 flying fortress.

I stiil watch and enjoy 12 O'clock High (yah kinda old school) and many times I've noticed a box frame looking device which looks like a short ladder located on the bulkhead right behind pilot and copilot seats. While flying this thing seems continuously sliding left to right and vs. I've checked the net many times but no answer to my curiosity. What is that thing?

pic?

It might very well be a gyroscope.

[desertswo]

Question about B-17 flying fortress.

I stiil watch and enjoy 12 O'clock High (yah kinda old school) and many times I've noticed a box frame looking device which looks like a short ladder located on the bulkhead right behind pilot and copilot seats. While flying this thing seems continuously sliding left to right and vs. I've checked the net many times but no answer to my curiosity. What is that thing?

I think you might be looking through the lower end of the top .50 Cal turret, which is just aft and above the pilot and co-pilot. Without seeing the view you are referring to, it's kind of hard to think of it being anything else.

[Stitch]

I think you might be looking through the lower end of the top .50 Cal turret, which is just aft and above the pilot and co-pilot. Without seeing the view you are referring to, it's kind of hard to think of it being anything else.

I'm with desertswo on this one; there WAS a dorsal twin-fifty turret just behind the cockpit in a Sperry electro-hydraulicaclly operated turret, and it would've been moving around a lot ("sliding left to right and vs.") in the middle of a firefight. IIRC, the navigator and/or radio operator had to man the turret once they reached German airspace.

[junoth1001]

Question about B-17 flying fortress.

I stiil watch and enjoy 12 O'clock High (yah kinda old school) and many times I've noticed a box frame looking device which looks like a short ladder located on the bulkhead right behind pilot and copilot seats. While flying this thing seems continuously sliding left to right and vs. I've checked the net many times but no answer to my curiosity. What is that thing?

after watching the film, It is the top gun turret.

[Albany Rifles]

It was manned by the flight engineer. The radio operator operated the manual dorsal single .50 call.

The bombardier manned the chin turret in later models.

The bombardier & navigator manned the cheek .50s on earlier models.

[Versus]

If this is your first attempt on scratch building a RC plane then I suggest you start with a simple trainer plane with high wing and rudder elevator only. Later on if you think you need ailerons then you can cut them from the same wing. You will learn how to do this as you progress. The cheapest and most exciting way to do this is that you buy a full size plan from many sellers here in US and Europe as well. Check the links below. You can also enlarge or even make those plans smaller.

Get yourself needed balsa and Plywood and start cutting. You won't need too many tools to do this. A set of small tools from Hobby outlets in the net or local shops will meet your need for start. Good lock to you and let me know if I can help I have over 20 years of building and flying RC planes under my belt.

don Smith plans Precision Cut Kits

Nick Ziroli plans http://www.ziroliplans.com/ziroliplans/welcome.html

Thanks for the advices, I am sure that I will need help with this one. The thread that follows this project is under the modeler's corner (Poorman aero is the name). I got all the materials for building, problem is that I ran out of free time (I work in the video game industry and the project we work on just got more complicated so I bring my work home). Another downer is the weather, we had a heat wave that simply sucks all the energy out. But good news is that it is getting colder now and I've finished all the assets for the demo of the game so now I have some free time. As soon as I make a move on this project I will post an update. Thanks again for the help, much appreciated.

[Aryajet]

Question about B-17 flying fortress.

I stiil watch and enjoy 12 O'clock High (yah kinda old school) and many times I've noticed a box frame looking device which looks like a short ladder located on the bulkhead right behind pilot and copilot seats. While flying this thing seems continuously sliding left to right and vs. I've checked the net many times but no answer to my curiosity. What is that thing?

Gentelmen,

I appreciate all your kind respond.

Of course I understand I'm talking about a movie in which director might add something to the scene to induce more drama which might not exist in real world.

Here it is, found in U-tube, you'll see this thing that I'm talking about once in 0.38 and several time from 0.50 to 1.07, it is right behind William Shatner's seat sliding from left to right. What is it?

Bombs Away in 12 O'Clock High tv show Shatner - YouTube

[desertswo]

Gentelmen,

I appreciate all your kind respond.

Of course I understand I'm talking about a movie in which director might add something to the scene to induce more drama which might not exist in real world.

Here it is, found in U-tube, you'll see this thing that I'm talking about once in 0.38 and several time from 0.50 to 1.07, it is right behind William Shatner's seat sliding from left to right. What is it?

Bombs Away in 12 O'Clock High tv show Shatner - YouTube

One more time; to quote stitch: "a dorsal twin-fifty turret just behind the cockpit in a Sperry electro-hydraulicaclly operated turret, and it would've been moving around a lot ("sliding left to right and vs.") in the middle of a firefight."

[Aryajet]

One more time; to quote stitch: "a dorsal twin-fifty turret just behind the cockpit in a Sperry electro-hydraulicaclly operated turret, and it would've been moving around a lot ("sliding left to right and vs.") in the middle of a firefight."

Deserter Sir,

When I read Dorsal in Stich's post my mind traveled all the back to front of the vertical stab on top of the fuselage and thought there might not be connection in between. Now it is all clear and appreciate your respond.

BTW: Looking at the pic. AR posted I think I wouldn't mind flying as Ball Turret Gunner few times, it has panoramic view. :D

[Doktor]

Ugh what a name change.

[Albany Rifles]

BTW: Looking at the pic. AR posted I think I wouldn't mind flying as Ball Turret Gunner few times, it has panoramic view. :D

I think not.....

Remembering World War Two Airmen: Ball Turret Gunners---- A Breed Apart

[desertswo]

Deserter Sir,

When I read Dorsal in Stich's post my mind traveled all the back to front of the vertical stab on top of the fuselage and thought there might not be connection in between. Now it is all clear and appreciate your respond.

BTW: Looking at the pic. AR posted I think I wouldn't mind flying as Ball Turret Gunner few times, it has panoramic view. :D

Uh, I've never "deserted" anything. I was a US Navy Surface Warfare Officer, or "SWO" for 25 years. I now live in the Sonora Desert. So I am "desertswo."